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Hi I'm Lance

I grew up in Utah and have lived in Oregon, Texas and Australia. I'm a father of five and design computer chips. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

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I grew up in a large Mormon family with 7 kids in the middle of Utah. Family was always a priority and I enjoyed spending time with my siblings.
At age 19 I moved to Australia for two years to serve the people there as a missionary for the Mormon church. I learned to love and appreciate people that are different than me. I lived in many areas spanning thousands of miles. A favorite was on a remote Island where I lived with a sheep rancher and learned the value of work.
I married a beautiful girl. Over the last 20 years, we've lived in Oregon and Texas and now have 5 children. Raising children is both a joy and a pain :) One thing we've done every week for 20 yrs is have a "date night". It's our time to stop being mom and dad and re-discover why we became sweethearts. It may only be a walk, a picnic, or a movie, but it has been vital to our marriage.
Our family loves to travel and take several vacations a year.
I work for computer company designing processors "the brains" which is challenging but enjoyable and requires that I travel at times to foreign countries.
My life is wonderful.

Why I am a Mormon

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I grew up a Mormon in the middle of Utah. As a youth, I was therefore lucky to have the easiest path be one that included abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, drugs, per-marital sex, and pornography. My family prayed together everyday and attended church every Sunday. My home was filled with love. My city of about 60,000 felt safe. I never had a house key because we never locked our doors and I often left the keys in my car.
My reason for being a Mormon was because it was easier and was obviously a good way to live.
When I left on a mission to Australia for 2 years, I discovered that not everyone was a Mormon :) I had to discover for myself what I really believed. Through prayer, study and service, I felt for myself the subtle yet very clear impressions from Heavenly Father that being a Mormon wasn't just a great lifestyle, but was in fact the Lord's church, guided by a living prophet. That God, despite being powerful enough to create the universe is literally a loving Father with a plan for each of us. I learned to love all people as brothers and sisters, regardless of their lifestyle choices.
Why do I continue to be a Mormon? Even if it wasn't true, there's no better way to raise a family. However, I know it is true. I pray and read from the scriptures every day and every day, I feel the promptings of the Holy Spirit that re-confirms to me that these teachings are true.

How I live my faith

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The Mormon church doesn't have paid positions. Responsibilities are assigned and changed often. This gives all members a chance to grow by serving others.
I've had several responsibilities related to the youth of the church. High school age youth attend one hour of scripture instruction (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Modern Revelation and Church History) every day at 6:00AM. For many years, I was assigned to teach one of these early morning seminary classes. Preparing a lesson every night and then waking up early to teach it was a big time commitment. However, it was hugely rewarding. Starting and finishing every day by studying about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ made me want to be more like him. It made me a kinder father and husband. It helped me see the good in others and want to make myself better. As I read and pray, I feel happiness, peace, and pure knowledge from our Heavenly Father that lets me know for myself that these things are true.
Two of my five children are in high school. There, they are faced with constant pressure to fit in and thus be less than their full potential. There will be no shortage of events and people that will tear them down. They, like all youth, need to know of their divine nature. They long to know God and their own true value. That is why, despite crazy schedules, my daughters wake up early for seminary. That's why a daughter calls on her cell every morning from practice to participate in family prayer. That's why a daughter hands me "happy note" letters she's written to be mailed anonymously to people she feels need extra love.
Not just knowing, but living the teachings of the Mormon faith has made all the difference to me and my family. I know this is his church and lead by a true prophet. If you feel lost, lacking in purpose or wanting more for your children, please make the effort to find out for yourself the joys our Heavenly Father has planned for you.